Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-03-03
General Joe Blackburn.


One of the most interesting characters
in the United States Senate IS Joe"
Blackburn, Of Kentucky. He is tall,
erect, distinguished looking man, with
massive head partly bald. His face is
not at all handsome, but it wears an IN
tellectual expression and heavy military
mustache, which combine to make it at
tractivc. His hair once brown, Is now
almost gray. tie POSSESSES q deep bass
voice, the low tone being rich and musi-
cal. Ii is only when he raises il above
certain key that its sound is harsh. Sen
ator Blackburn is an orator OF lhe fiery
Southern type. Some splendid specimens
Of impas,ionod cloqueuce have fallen
from his lips during the fifteen years he
has been in Congress, but now that he is
only serving his apprenticeship in the
Senate, his voice Is seldom heard in that
body. save when he arises to offer rc.o-
luton or bill. In debate he is quick
and effective, though often incorporate
in his remarks, to a degree that prciudi-
ces his own cause. lie il an intense par
tisan, a stalwart Of the stalwaris among
Kentucky Democrats, and being Of q
restless, passionate temperament, 1t is not
at all surprising that his political speech
ci are bitter from every point Of view.
His famous midnight speech in ihe House
Of Representatives in 1877, pending the
confirmation Of the Electoral Commission,
has been pronounced one Of the finest eX-
amples Of fiery inyec,iyc and impulsiye
oratory ever delivered in Cougrcs-. So
extreme was It's sentiment and revolution
airy its tendency that large portion of II
was afterwards stricken from the record
by order Of the House and the public
was not permitted to read the speech in
the shape Blackburn had created IT,.
Perhaps il Il well they did not, for feel
ing was high then, and such utteauccs
in the halls Of Congress would not have
helped pacific scttlemeutof the difficult
ties, so far as tbe public mind was con-
corned.
Senator Blackburn is a remarkable
man in another respect. Tie POSSESSES a
wonderful faculty for imbibilg hnovl-
edge from conversation. lie seldom
reads book Of any nature, and yet 10
man in the Senate has on hand, for In
slant Use, larger fund Of general bnowl-
edge than he. lie reads newspapers very
little; in fact, weeks 20 by without his
looking at one Yc, 10 man in the sen.
ate is more thoroughly posted on the cur-
rent events Of the day, or more conyer-
SAINT with the political topic Of the times.
He learns it all by listening to the discus
sions by Others. If be Is riding to the
Capitol in a street car, be is sure to meet
some one he knows who has read the
morning papers, and before the Capitol is
reached the Senator i. as well acquainted
with what bas transpired in the world
the day previous as his friend. He docs
not know all the details, bat be knows
what has happened the details he gath
ers in conversations from time to timc
with others upon the subject. lie is a
splendid conyersationaii>i, and las pc
ouliar talent for making others talk.
Being quick to comprehend, it does not
take him long to iamiliarize himself wiih
a subject YOU may be talking Of which
he NAV never have heard mentioned be-
fore. At The Capital, among bis brother
Senator's, he is very popular, and every
dav he goes among them, first holding a
few minute conversation with Tbs onc
he knows reads the Tribune regularly, q
that one who he feels sure has the editc-
rials Of the Void fresh in his mind, and
20 on, until he has in bis own mind not
only the meat" OF all tire great journals
Of political belief, but the obseryance'
concerning every subject Of the distin.
guished gentlemen from whom he has i'm
bibed the news. Then he IS ready tc
form his own opinions and to entertain
his friends at lunch or dinner with hi
delightful conversation upon the topics o
! the day. A stranger, not being aware o